-A  w 


I BOARD  OF  FOREIGN  MISSIONS 

I OF  THE 

I Reformed  Church  in  America 


SKETCH  ^ 

OF  THE 

So6tl7  Japai>  ^issioi) 

BY 

HENRY  STOUT,  D.D. 


NEW  YORK 

PUBLISHED  BY  THE  BOARD 
1894 


1 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive  ^ 

in  2Q17  with  funding  from 
Columbia  University  Libraries 

ii 

5 


i 

https ://archive;org/detafts/sketchofsoutbjaptJO^ou  ' 


THE  SOUTH  JAPAN  MISSION  OF  THE  REFORMED 
CHURCH  IN  AMERICA. 


Nagasaki  may  be  called  the  birthplace  of  Protestant 
missions  in  Japan.  It  was  here  that  the  idea  of  missions 
to  the  Japanese  first  assumed  practical  form  ; from  here 
the  call  for  missionaries  was  sent;  and  here  the  first 
missionaries  came.  The  facts  are  these  ; 

Not  long  after  the  opening  of  the  country  by  treaty, 
Dr.  S.  Wells  Williams  and  the  Rev.  E.  W.  Syle,  mission- 
aries to  China,  the  former  of  the  American  Board  and 
the  latter  of  the  Board  of  the  American  Episcopal 
Church,  came  on  a visit  to  Nagasaki.  They  made  the 
acquaintance  of  the  officers  of  the  U.  S.  S.  “ Powhatan,” 
then  in  port,  and  were  one  day  invited  to  join  a party 
including  the  chaplain,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wood,  in  making  a 
call  upon  the  governor  of  the  city.  In  the  conversation 
the  governor  took  occasion  to  say  that,  as  the  country 
was  now  open  to  trade,  the  people  would  be  glad  of  any- 
thing the  foreigners  had  to  bring  them,  except  two  things, 
opium  and  Christianity.  This  remark  naturally  became 
a subject  of  thought  and  discussion  by  these  three  Christ- 
ian men.  It  was  evident  to  them  that  the  governor’s 
ideas  of  Christianity,  which  led  him  to  consider  it  an  evil 
on  a par  with  opium,  had  been  derived  from  the  history 
of  a false  form  of  the  faith  in  his  own  country  in  former 
times.  They,  therefore,  decided  to  make  an  effort  to 
have  true  Christianity  introduced,  and  agreed  to  write 
letters  to  the  Boards  of  the  Episcopal,  Presbyterian  and 
Reformed  Churches  in  America,  urging  the  sending  of 


2 


SKETCHES  OF  THE  MISSIONS. 


missionaries  to  Japan.  In  response  to  these  letters, 
missions  were  established  by  these  three  churches.  The 
Episcopal  Church  has  the  honorof  being  the  first  to  occupy 
the  field.  Two  men  were  located  at  Nagasaki  in  the 
summer  of  1859.  The  mission  of  the  Reformed  Church 
was  established  in  the  same  place  a few  months  later  by 
the  Rev.  G.  F.  Verbeck. 

The  history  of  this  branch  of  the  mission  for  the  next 
ten  years,  is  entirely  that  connected  with  the  personal 
experiences  of  its  founder.  In  a reply  to  a request  for 
information  concerning  this  period,  he  wrote  as  follows: 

“ I left  New  York  on  the  5th  of  May,  1859,  in  the  company 
of  Dr.  S.  R.  Brown  and  Dr.  D.  B.  Simmons,  all  of  our 
mission,  together  with  our  families.  I arrived  at  Nagasaki 
on  the  7th  of  November,  1859,  and  my  wife,  whom  I was 
obliged  to  leave  for  a time  in  Shanghai,  on  December  31st 
of  the  same  year. 

“ We  found  the  natives  not  at  all  accessible  touching 
religious  matters.  When  such  a subject  was  mooted  in 
the  presence  of  a native,  his  hand  would  almost  involun- 
tarily be  applied  edgewise  to  his  throat,  to  indicate  the 
extreme  perilousness  of  such  a discussion.  If,  on  such 
an  occasion,  more  than  one  native  happened  to  be  present, 
the  natural  shyness  was,  if  possible,  still  more  apparent, 
for  there  was  little  confidence  between  man  and  man, 
chiefly  on  account  of  the  abominable  secret  spy  system, 
which  we  found  in  full  swing  when  we  first  arrived  and 
for  several  years  after.  It  was  evident  that  before  we 
could  hope  to  accomplish  anything  in  our  appropriate 
work  two  things  were  essential;  we  had  to  gain  the 
general  confidence  of  the  people  and  we  had  to  master 
the  native  tongue. 

“ As  to  the  first,  by  the  most  knowing  and  suspicious,  we 
were  regarded  as  people  that  had  come  to  sed  uce  the  masses 
from  their  fealty  to  the  ‘god-country,’  and  to  corrupt 
their  morals  generally.  These  gross  misconceptions  we 


SOUTH  JAPAN  MISSION. 


3 


had  to  endeavor  to  dispel  by  invariable  kindness  and 
generosity,  by  showing  that  we  had  come  to  do  good  to 
them  only  and  on  all  occasions  of  our  intercourse,  whether 
we  met  in  friendship,  on  business,  on  duty  or  otherwise; 
a very  simple  Christian  duty  this  ! 

“ As  to  the  other  pre-requisite  to  successful  work,  we 
were  in  many  respects  not  favorably  situated,  and  our 
progress  was  correspondingly  slow.  We  had  none,  or 
hardly  any,  of  the  helps  for  studying  the  language  that 
have  been  so  abundantly  furnished  to  those  who  arrived 
at  later  dates.  The  discovery  of  a new  part  of  speech,  or 
of  a new  construction,  seemed  to  us  often  like  the  dis- 
covery of  a new  land  and  often  was  the  source  of  great  joy. 

“As  to  myself,  I may  say  that,  as  an  auxiliary  in  my 
endeavors  to  secure  the  above  two  requisites,  I early 
commenced  to  give  gratuitous  instruction  at  my  home  in 
the  English  language,  and  various  other  useful  branches. 
This  course,  under  Providence,  led  to  my  being  early 
identified  with  educational  matters,  and  did  much  to  give 
shape  and  color  to  my  career  in  this  country. 

“ As  to  baptisms,  a full  account  of  them  may  be  found 
in  Mrs.  Sangster’s  ‘ Manual  of  the  Missions  of  the 
Reformed  Church  in  America,’  by  the  Board  of  Publi- 
cation.* This  is  an  account  of  the  first  two  baptisms. 
The  only  other  case  at  Nagasaki,  in  my  time,  was  that  of 
the  priest  Shimidzu  in  1868.” 

Mr.  Verbeck  taught  for  several  years  in  a school  estab- 
lished under  the  patronage  of  the  governor  of  Nagasaki, 
primarily  for  training  young  men  to  become  interpreters 
in  government  offices,  and  for  a short  time  also  in  a 
school  established  for  giving  a more  liberal  education, 
by  the  daimyo  of  Hizen.  Early  in  1869,  he  was  called  to 
Tokyo  to  assist  in  organizing  a school  for  the  study  of 
Western  languages  and  the  sciences,  which  later  grew 
into  the  Imperial  University.  For  this  purpose  he  left 
Nagasaki  in  March  the  same  year. 


* See  Appendix. 


4 


SKETCHES  OF  THE  MISSIONS. 


The  Rev.  Henry  Stout  and  wife  arrived  in  Nagasaki 
ten  days  before  the  departure  of  Mr.  Verbeck  and  family. 
It  was  arranged  that  the  place  to  be  vacated  in  the  schools 
be  taken  by  the  new  missionary.  The  Hizen  school  was 
soon  transferred  toTokyoashad  been  previously  planned. 
The  arrangement  with  the  citv  school  continued  forthree 
years  and  a half.  During  this  time  opportunities  were 
not  entirely  wanting  to  do  some  real  mission  work, 
especially  with  pupils  living  in  the  house  with  their 
teacher,  or  even  occasionally  with  others  in  the  school 
who  were  my  intimate  friends  and  could  be  induced  to 
come  quietly  on  Sundays  for  Bible  study.  But  a great 
deal  of  the  same  sort  of  timidity  which  Mr.  Verbeck  had 
found  among  the  people  was  still  manifested.  This  was 
especially  marked  after  the  persecution  of  1870,  in  which 
about  four  thousand  Roman  Catholic  Christians,  descend- 
ents  of  the  converts  of  former  times,  living  in  villages 
near  Nagasaki,  were  suddenly  arrested  and  deported  to 
different  parts  of  the  country.  At  the  same  time,  also, 
two  Protestants,  one  “the  priest  Shimidzu  ” before 
referred  to,  were  arrested  and  thrown  into  prison.  Gradu- 
ally, however,  the  reserve  gave  way  in  great  measure,  and 
in  1872  the  time  seem.ed  favorable  for  beginning  more 
direct  and  active  mission  work.  The  position  in  the 
school  was.  therefore,  resigned. 

Still,  instruction  in  English  appeared  to  be  the  means 
bv  which  the  beginning  must  be  made.  The  first  step 
taken  was  to  gather  an  evening  class  of  young  men  at 
the  mission  home,  with  the  Bible  as  the  principle  text 
book.  Soon  as  many  as  could  be  accommodated  were  in 
regular  attendance. 

In  connection  with  teaching,  both  in  the  government 
school  and  in  the  private  class,  opportunities  frequently 
offered  to  present  the  subject  of  female  education.  And 
not  long  after  the  class  for  boj^s  was  well  under  way,  some 
persons  who  had  been  friendly  for  a long  time,  came  and 


SOUTH  JAPAN  MISSION. 


5 


asked  that  Mrs.  Stout  teach  a class  of  girls,  giving  special 
attention  to  sewing,  knitting,  etc.  This  she  undertook 
to  do  in  the  afternoon,  also  at  the  mission  home.  These 
classes  were  visited  and  met  with  such  favor  that,  not 
long  after  their  organization,  a number  of  men  united  in 
a request  for  establishing  a joint  school  in  the  citv  at 
their  expense  for  rent  and  incidentals.  The  agreement 
was  that,  as  the  teachers’  time  would  be  given  gratuitously, 
the  instruction  should  be  entirely  at  their  option.  How- 
ever. it  was  understood  that  for  the  time  being  the 
religious  instruction  should  be  given  at  the  teachers’ 
residence.  In  a short  time  a school  of  about  fifty  girls 
and  thirty  boys  and  young  men,  was  in  successful  opera- 
tion. 

Early  in  1873,  the  edicts  against  Christianity  were 
removed,  and  the  time  seemed  now  ripe  for  more  open 
Christian  teaching.  After  a time  the  Bible  was  introduced 
into  the  school,  as  a voluntary  study.  The  result  of  this 
was,  first,  a remonstrance  to  the  teachers,  and  then  intimi- 
dation toward  those  of  the  pupils  who  had  engaged  in 
Bible  study.  When  both  were  found  to  be  ineffectual, 
the  school  was  summarily  closed.  However,  there  is  good 
reason  to  believe  that  those  who  had  the  school  immedi- 
ately in  charge  cared  little  about  the  study  of  the 
Bible.  But  the  fact  of  its  having  been  introduced  into 
the  school  had  been  noised  abroad,  and  there  was  great 
excitement  over  it.  Such  pressure  was  brought  to  bear 
upon  these  men,  that  there  was  nothing  for  them  to  do 
but  yield  to  public  clamor. 

A few  days  after  the  closing  of  the  school,  a number 
of  those  who  had  been  in  either  department,  came 
begging  to  be  taught  again  as  at  the  first.  And  so  the 
classes  went  on  as  formerly,  with  the  best  elements  of 
what  had  constituted  the  school  in  the  city. 

Urgent  requests  were  sent  to  the  Board  for  aid  in 
carrying  on  the  work  thus  opening  up,  especially  that  for 


6 


SKETCHES  OE  THE  MISSIONS. 


women.  The  class  for  girls  was  continued,  in  hope  that 
help  would  be  sent,  till  the  summer  of  the  following 
year,  when  Mrs.  Stout's  health  became  such  that  she  was 
obliged  to  dismiss  it.  The  class  for  boys,  however,  was 
carried  on  for  many  years.  For  this  work,  a school  house 
was  erected  on  the  mission  grounds,  by  funds  kindly 
furnished  by  a friend.  Of  the  young  men  first  taught, 
three  were  baptized  in  the  Autumn  of  1873.  The  class 
was  never  large,  the  necessity  soon  arriving  for  giving 
much  time  to  the  instruction  of  young  men  looking 
forward  to  the  ministry,  which  precluded  the  possibility 
of  the  teacher’s  giving  sufficient  time  to  general  instruc- 
tion to  encourage  pupils  to  enter  the  class. 

In  1874,  the  Rev.  C.  H.  H.  Wolf?  and  wife  were  trans- 
ferred to  the  mission  at  Nagasaki.  In  addition  to  time 
given  to  the  study  of  the  language,  Mr.  Wolff  gave 
assistance  in  teaching  for  about  one  year.  He  retired 
from  the  mission  in  1876. 

In  the  summer  of  1874,  the  way  seemed  to  be  fairly 
open  for  taking  still  another  step  in  advance.  A 
Sunday-school  and  preaching  service  had  been  carried 
on  for  some  time  in  the  school-house,  but  all  this  was 
done  rather  in  private.  A lot  was  now  secured  and  a 
chapel  built  in  the  foreign  concession,  just  at  the  entrance 
to  the  native  city.  And  here  the  first  public  proclama- 
tion of  the  Gospel  was  made  in  the  southern  part  of 
Japan.  Crowds  were  in  attendance  from  the  first,  and 
for  two  years  there  was  little  sign  of  diminishing  interest 
or  curiosity.  Whenever  the  doors  were  opened  for  services, 
the  room  would  be  filled.  Frequently,  in  winter,  services 
would  be  continued  night  after  night  for  a week  or  more, 
A preaching  place  was  opened  in  the  centre  of  the  city 
in  1875,  with  experiences  similar  to  those  at  the  chapel. 
But  the  apparent  results  of  all  these  efforts  were  exceed- 
ingly small.  The  seed  for  the  most  part  seems  to  have 
fallen  by  the  way-side.  However,  in  December,  1876,  a 


SOUTH  JAPAN  MISSION. 


7 


church  was  organized  with  ten  adult  members  and  two 
baptized  children. 

In  1878,  Kagoshima  was  occupied  as  an  out-station 
with  Mr.  A.  Segawa,  one  of  the  three  first  baptized,  in 
charge.  He  was  well  received,  and  from  the  first,  as  at 
Nagasaki,  there  was  a remartcable  eagerness  to  hear 
preaching.  The  apparent  results  were  in  the  beginning, 
great,  many  coming  forward  eagerly  asking  for  baptism. 
But  the  early  promises  were  not  realized  in  the  harvest. 
The  history  of  the  work  here  indicates  that  the  soil  is 
fruitful  of  thorns. 

The  same  year  the  Misses  Farrington  came  out  to 
establish  the  “Jonathan  Sturges  Seminary”  for  girls. 
A small  class  then  being  taught  was  passed  over  to  them. 
These  ladies,  however,  soon  went  to  Yokohama  by 
physician’s  recommendation,  and  from  there  a little  later 
returned  to  America. 

Up  to  this  time,  the  work  of  the  missionaries  of  the 
Reformed  Church  at  Yokohama  and  Nagasaki  had 
been  carried  on  quite  separately,  but  by  direction  of 
the  Board  a meeting  was  held  in  Yokohama  in  September. 
1878,  and  “The  Japan  Mission”  was  fully  organized. 
From  that  time  during  eleven  years,  while  this  arrange- 
ment continued,  the  branch  of  the  misssion  in  the  south 
was  known  as  “The  Nagasaki  Station.” 

Permission  having  been  given  by  the  Board  for  Mr. 
Stout  and  family  to  return  to  America,  they  left  the  field 
in  the  spring  of  1879.  The  work  of  the  station  was  left 
in  the  hands  of  native  assistants.  One  man  was  in 
Nagasaki  in  charge  of  the  church,  in  which  there  were 
twenty-three  members,  and  one  in  charge  of  the  newly 
established  out-station  at  Kagoshima.  A third  man  was 
sent  to  Tokyo  to  continue  his  theological  studies. 

The  third  decade,  beginning  with  1879,  was  marked  by 
the  arrival  of  the  Rev.  E.  S.  Booth  and  wife.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Stout  returned  a year  later.  Lines  of  work  in  educa- 


SKETCHES  OF  THE  MISSIONS. 


tion  and  evangelization  were  now  taken  up,  which  gave 
promise  of  great  success.  A school  for  boys  was  opened  ; 
a class  of  five  theological  students  was  organized  ; Rev. 
A.  Segawa,  having  been  lately  ordained,  was  appointed 
assistant  in  theological  instruction;  a church  was  organ- 
ized in  Kagoshima  with  twenty-four  members,  and  Saga 
was  occupied  as  an  out-station.  But  at  the  end  of  i88i, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Booth  went  to  Yokohama,  and  were  soon 
after  appointed  to  Ferris  Seminary. 

Urgent  requests  were  now  sent  for  reinforcements, 
and  in  the  end,  the  subject  was  presented  definitely  to 
the  effect  that,  for  the  success  of  the  work,  there  must 
be  schools  for  both  boys  and  girls,  and  superintendence 
of  the  evangelistic  work.  This  plan  called  for  the  appoint- 
ment of  two  men  and  two  single  ladies,  and  appropria- 
tions for  school  buildings.  It  was  further  urged  that,  if 
this  could  not  be  done,  the  field  in  the  south  be  passed 
over  to  others.  The  Board  decided  to  do  what  was  asked, 
and  in  1883,  the  Rev.  N.  H.  Demarest  and  wife  arrived,  it 
being  understood  that  he  prepare  for  the  evangelistic  work. 
In  the  following  year,  the  Rev.  H.  Harris  and  wife,  and 
Miss  M.  E.  Brokaw  and  Miss  C.  B.  Richards  arrived  under 
appointment  for  the  educational  work.  Miss  Richards 
left  the  misssion  a few  months  after  her  arrival,  and  Mr. 
Harris  asked  to  be  transferred  to  Tokyo,  to  which  place 
he  moved  after  one  year’s  connection  with  the  Nagasaki 
station.  In  1886,  the  Rev.  A.  Oltmans  was  appointed, 
and  with  his  wife,  arrived  in  the  autumn  of  the  same 
year,  to  undertake  the  establishment  of  “ Steele  Memorial 
School.” 

The  buildings  for  the  two  schools  were  immediately 
commenced  and  completed  the  next  summer.  The 
funds  for  Sturges  Seminary  had  been  provided  by  an 
appropriation  of  $5,000  from  the  Woman’s  Board.  This 
sum  had  been  collected  by  special  gifts  from  various 
sources,  among  which  was  one  of  $3,000  from  Mrs. 


SOUTH  JAPAN  MISSION. 


9 


Jonathan  Sturges,  president  of  the  Woman’s  Board, 
whence  the  name  of  the  institution.  The  buildings  for 
Steele  Memorial  School  were  paid  for  by  a gift  of  $5,000 
from  Dr.  William  H.  Steele,  President  of  the  Synods 
Board,  as  a memorial  to  his  late  son. 

The  two  schools  were  formally  opened  in  the  autumn 
of  1887,  Miss  M.  E.  Br<.)kaw  in  charge  of  Sturges  Seminary 
and  Rev.  A.  Oltmans  of  Steele  Memorial  School.  Both 
had  been  teaching  in  rooms  temporarily  provided,  Miss 
Brokaw  having  succeeded  in  gathering  a small  class  of 
girls,  and  Mr.  Oltmans  in  enlarging  the  classes  being 
taught  on  his  arrival.  They  thus  had  pupils  with  whom 
to  make  a beginning  in  the  new  buddings. 

A short  time  after  the  opening.  Miss  R.  L.  Irvine 
arrived  under  appointment  to  Sturges  Seminary.  For 
the  first  two  years  this  institution  received  but  limited 
patronage.  In  the  spring  of  1890,  Miss  Brokaw  asked  to 
be  transferred  to  Ferris  Seminary.  The  Board  consented 
to  this,  and  soon  after  appointed  Miss  C.  B.  Lanterman 
to  take  the  place  she  left.  In  1891  it  was  considered 
desirable  to  put  both  schools  under  the  direction  of 
native  principals,  to  make  them  conform  more  fully  to 
the  idea  of  schools  for  the  Japanese,  and  Mr.  M.  Saito, 
who  had  long  been  identified  with  Sturges  Seminary, 
was  made  its  principal.  Under  this  plan  one  of  the  ladies 
acts  as  vice-principal  in  charge  of  the  home  department, 
and  the  mission  as  a board  of  directors  with  ultimate 
control.  The  same  year  Miss  A.  B.  Stout  was  employed 
as  teacher  of  music.  The  next  spring  Miss  Irvine  went 
to  America  on  leave  of  absence,  during  which  her  con- 
nection with  the  mission  was  terminated.  At  the  close 
of  the  summer  vacation,  just  as  Miss  Lanterman  was 
making  preparations  for  the  opening  of  the  fall  term,  she 
was  taken  sick,  and  died  quite  suddenly,  after  but  a few 
days  of  suffering.  Soon  after  this  Miss  S.  M.  Couch 
arrived,  under  appointment  for  Bible  work  among  women, 


10 


SKEI  CHES  OF  THE  MISSIONS. 


but  on  account  of  the  vacancy,  she  spent  a year  in  work 
in  the  Seminary. 

Steele  Memorial  School  was  organized  into  two  depart- 
ments, theological  and  academic,  the  teachers  giving 
instruction  in  both  depat  tments  as  necessity  requires.  Mr. 
Oltmans  conducted  the  school  for  the  first  three  years 
after  its  formal  opening  in  the  new  buildings.  Then  for 
a year,  Mr.  H.  V.  S.  Peeke,  who  had  been  sent  out  as  a 
teacher  for  a limited  term,  was  in  charge.  In  accordance 
with  the  plan  for  putting  the  schools  under  the  direction 
of  natives,  the  Rev.  M.  Ohgimi  was  made  principal  in 
1891.  The  same  year,  the  Rev.  A.  Pieters  was  appointed 
teacher,  and  with  his  wife  arrived  in  time  for  the  opening 
of  the  fall  term.  In  the  following  year,  the  name  of  the 
institution  was  changed  to  that  of  “ Steele  College.” 
Twenty-one  men,  in  five  classes,  have  graduated  from  the 
academic  department,  all  except  one  being  Christians. 
The  graduation  of  the  earlier  classes  became  possible 
through  the  instruction  given  by  different  members  of 
the  mission  before  the  school  was  established.  Seven 
of  the  graduates  continued  their  studies  in  theology,  two 
having  already  finished  that  course.  In  connection  with 
the  earlier  theological  instruction,  twenty  men  have  been 
trained  for  the  ministry,  and  as  ordained  or  licensed 
preachers  are  now  engaged  in  Christian  work. 

The  missions  of  the  Presbyterian  churches  in  America 
north  and  south,  laboring  on  fields  contiguous  to  that 
occupied  by  the  Reformed  Church  Mission,  send  men  to 
the  theological  department  of  the  college  to  be  trained 
for  the  ministry.  And  to  aid  in  the  instruction,  the 
mission  of  the  church,  north,  has  sent  a graduate  of  the 
Meiji  Gakuin  and  of  M'Cormick  Theological  Seminary. 

As  to  evangelization  proper,  it  has  been  a constant 
cause  for  regret  that  this  most  important  branch  of  work 
has,  of  necessity,  been  left  almost  entirely  in  the  hands 
of  native  evangelists.  Mr.  Demarest  was  the  first  specially 


SOUTH  JAPAN  MISSION. 


1 1 

appoinled  to  this  work,  but  soon  after  he  was  able  to 
make  a beginning  on  the  field,  he  was  obliged  to  go  to 
America  with  his  family,  on  account  of  Mrs.  Demarest’s 
health.  A few  months  after  his  return,  he  was  obliged 
to  leave  a second  time,  and  finally,  for  the  same  reason, 
Mr.  Oltmans  resigned  disposition  in  the  school,  by  special 
request  of  the  mission,  to  take  up  the  work  thus  left,  but 
after  two  years,  spent  partly  in  study  of  the  language 
and  partly  in  work,  he  went  with  his  family  to  America 
on  leave  of  absence.  However,  the  training  of  men  and 
the  opening  of  out-stations  has  gone  on,  till  sixteen 
principal  places  have  been  occupied,  where  evangelists 
reside  and  carry  on  the  work,  and  from  which  many  other 
places  are  reached  and  services  held  at  stated  times.  In 
two  places  near  Nagasaki  work  is  done  regularly  by 
students  in  the  theological  school.  Four  churches  have 
been  organized,  namely, at  Nagasaki,  Kagoshima,  Karatsu 
and  Saga.  Two  of  these  churches,  those  at  Nagasaki  and 
Karatsu,  have  settled  pastors.  The  reports  from  churches 
and  out-stations,  at  the  end  of  the  year  1893,  show  that 
there  were  four  hundred  and  forty-two  names  of  mem- 
bers on  tlie  rolls,  of  which  eighty-four  were  of  children. 

By  action  of  the  Board  in  i889,the  Nagasaki  Station  was 
made  an  independent  mission.  It  is  known  as  ‘‘The  South 
Japan  Mission  of  the  Reformed  Church  in  America.” 

The  latest  additions  to  the  forces  were  the  Rev.  H. 
V.  S.  Peeke  and  wife.  Miss  H.  M.  Lansing  and  Miss 
M.  E.  Duryea,  all  having  arrived  in  the  autumn  of  1893, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peeke  went  to  Kagoshima,  expecting  to 
make  that  their  field.  They  are  the  first  of  the  mission 
to  locate  outside  of  Nagasaki.  The  two  ladies  were 
appointed  to  Sturges  Seminary. 

Following  is  a summary  for  the  end  of  the  year,  1893  : 

MISSIONARIES. 

Rev.  Henry  Stout  and  wife.  Rev.  A.  Oltmans  and  wife. 
Rev.  A.  Pieters  and  wife.  Miss  S.  M.  Couch,  Rev.  H.  V 


12 


SKETCHES  OE  THE  MISSIONS. 


S.  Peeke  and  wife,  Miss  H.  M.  Lansing  and  Miss  M.  E. 
Duryea. 

STURGES  SEMINARY. 

Mr.  M.  Saito,  principal;  Miss  S.  M.  Couch,  vice- 
principal, in  charge  of  home  department;  Miss  A.  B. 
Stout,  teacher  of  music;  three  native  teachers  engaged 
on  full  time,  and  four  for  special  lessons ; si.\ty-two  pupils, 
forty-two  being  boarders;  thirty-seven  pupils  members  of 
the  church  in  full  communion,  and  six  others  baptized  in 
infancy. 

(At  the  annual  meeting  it  was  decided  that  Miss  Lansing 
and  Miss  Duryea  take  charge  at  the  beginnmgof  the  new 
year.  Miss  Lansing  was  appointed  vice-principal.) 

STEELE  COLLEGE. 

Rev.  M.  Ohgimi,  principal;  Rev.  H.  Stout,  Rev.  A. 
Pieters,  and  five  native  teachers  engaged  on  full  time, 
and  three  others  for  special  lectures  ; seventy-four  pupils 
on  the  roll,  twenty-four  being  in  the  theological  depart- 
ment; twenty-two  in  the  academic  department  members 
of  the  church;  about  two-thirds  of  the  pupils  boarders ; 
twenty-one  graduates  from  the  academic  department  and 
twenty  from  the  theological  department. 

EVANGELISTIC  WORK. 

Rev.  A.  Oltmans  (in  America);  Miss  S.  M.  Couch, 
under  appointment  for  Bible  work  among  women,  but 
temporarily  engaged  in  Sturges  Seminary ; Rev.  H.  V.  S. 
Peeke  studying  the  language  ; two  pastors  and  nineteen 
evangelists,  one  ordained  and  thirteen  licensed;  Nagasaki 
and  sixteen  out-stations  with  resident  evangelists,  at  two 
out-stations  two  men  ; about  twenty  other  places  where 
work  is  done  regularly  by  evangelists  and  theological 
students  ; four  organized  churches  ; three  hundred  and 
fifty-eight  adult  church  members  and  eighty-four  baptized 
children;  three  hundred  and  thirty-three  Sunday-school 
pupils  ; contributions  for  1893,  yen  510.85. 


SOUTH  JAPA.V  MISSION. 


13 


PUBLICATION. 

By  Rev.  H.  Stout : “ A Brief  Statement  of  Christian 
Doctrine,”  a translation  and  adaptation  of  Dr.  S.  M. 
Woodbridge’s  “ Lectures  on  Sacred  History,”  i vol.,  and 
of  his  “ L.ectures  on  Church  History,”  2 vols. 

By  Rev.  A.  Segawa : “ A Commentary  on  the  First 
Fifty  Fsalms,’’  a translation  of  Dr.  S.  M.  Woodbridge’s 
“Analysis  of  Systematic  Theology,”  two  editions;  of 
Dr.  W.  G.  T.  Shedd’s  “Homiletics”:  and  of  Dr.  J.  L. 
Hurlbut’s  “ Biblical  Geography.” 


LIST  OF  MISSIONARIES. 

Arrived  Retired. 


Rev.  G.  F.  V’erbeck  and  Mrs.  Verbeck, 

1859 

1869 

Rev.  Henry  Stout  and  Mrs.  Stout 

. 1869 

Rev.  C H.  H.  Wolff  and  Mrs.  Wolff 

1874 

1876 

Miss  E.  F.  Farrington,  .... 

1878 

1879 

Miss  M.  J.  Farrington,  ....  . . 

Rev.  E.  S.  Booth  and  Mrs.  Booth, 

1879 

1881 

Rev.  N.  H.  Demarest  and  Mrs.  Demarest.  . 

i88t 

1890 

Rev.  H.  Harris  and  Mrs.  Harris,  . . 

1884 

1885 

Miss  C.  B.  Richards, 

Miss  M.  E.  Brokaw 

0 

O' 

00 

Rev.  A.  Oltmans  and  Mrs.  Oltmans,  . . . ■ 

1886 

Miss  R.  L.  Irvine, 

1887 

1893 

Miss  C.  B.  Lanterman,* 

0 

O' 

00 

1892 

Rev.  A.  Pieters  and  Mrs.  Pieters, 

1891 

Miss  S.  M.  Couch 

1892 

Rev.  H.  V.  S.  Peeke  and  Mrs.  Peeke 

1893 

Miss  H.  M.  Lansing, . 

Miss  M.  E.  Duryea, 

** 

TEACHERS  EMPLOYED. 

Mr.  H.  V.  S.  Peeke, 

1888 

1891 

Miss  A.  B.  Stout, 

1891 

* Deceased. 

APPENDIX. 


FIRST  BAPTISMS  AT  NAGASAKI.  - 

In  the  year  1854  an  English  fleet  of  war  came  into  the 
harbor  of  Nagasaki.  This  was  before  any  treaty  with 
England,  and  such  an  event  created  great  excitement. 
A large  force  of  troops  was  gathered  to  watch  the  vessels 
and  prevent  any  trade  or  intercourse  with  the  peop’e. 
The  commander-in-chief  was  named  VVakasa,  and  he 
was  accustomed  to  go  out  in  a boat  to  see  that  all  was 
right  and  that  no  secret  communication  was  attempted. 

On  one  of  these  excursions  he  discovered  in  the  water 
a small  pocket  Testament,  which  was  quite  unlike  any 
book  he  had  ever  seen,  and  he  was  very  anxious  to  know 
its  contents.  After  considerable  inquiry,  he  learned 
from  some  Dutch  interpreter  that  it  told  about  God 
and  Jesus  Christ.  This  only  increased  his  curiosity  to 
understand  it  all ; and  having  heard  there  was  a transla- 
tion in  China,  he  sent  to  Shanghai  and  procured  a copy. 
Having  returned  to  his  home  at  Saga  he  began  the  study 
of  the  Testament,  and  induced  four  others  to  join  him. 
One  of  these  was  a brother  named  Ayabe,  and  another  a 
relative  named  Molino. 

In  the  autumn  of  1862  Ayabe  came  to  Nagasaki  for 
further  instruction,  and  was  taught  by  Rev.  Dr.  Verbeck. 
During  the  following  spring,  this  man  came  to  Dr.  Ver- 
beck at  night  and  warned  him  of  danger  to  himself  and 
family  if  they  did  not  leave  at  once.  It  is  probable  that 
this  caution  saved  their  lives,  as  they  fled  to  China  and 
remained  there  until  the  serious  troubles  which  followed 
were  ended. 

When  Dr.  Verbeck  returned  he  found  that  Ayabe  had 


SOUTH  JAPAN  MISSION. 


15 


received  some  government  appointment  which  removed 
him  from  Nagasaki,  and  it  seemed  that  all  his  labors  and 
prayers  were  to  be  in  vain.  But  not  long  after,  Wakasa 
sent  Molino  (who  had  learned  to  read  English)  with  in- 
structions to  read  over  and  get  explanations  of  such  por- 
tions of  the  Scriptures  as  they  could  not  understand, 
and  he  was  also  to  procure  any  b_.oks  that  would  be 
helpful  in  their  efforts  to  know  the  word  of  God.  In  this 
manner  the  Bible  class  was  carried  on  for  nearly  three 
years,  the  laithful  messenger  making  the  two  days’  j(rur- 
ney  to  Nagasaki  and  returning  in  due  time  with  the  de- 
sired know'ledge. 

On  the  14th  of  May,  1866,  a messenger  came  to  Dr. 
Verbeck  and  announced  that  some  high  officials  from  the 
province  of  Hizen  had  arrived  and  desired  him  to  appoint 
a day  and  hour  for  an  interview'.  To  his  great  joy  and 
surprise  these  men  proved  to  be  Wakasa  with  his  brother 
and  Molino. 

At  the  time  appointed  Wakgsa  and  his  train  appeared. 
He  was  then  one  of  the  ministers  of  state  or  governors  of 
the  province.  In  appearance  he  was  tall  and  dignified, 
with  a most  pleasing  expression.  He  said  to  Dr.  Ver- 
beck, “ I have  long  known  you  in  my  mind,  and  desired 
to  converse  with  you,  and  I am  very  happy  that,  in  God’s 
providence,  I am  at  last  permitted  this  privilege.”  Two 
of  his  sons  were  with  him. 

These  men  had  evidently  received  the  word  with  all 
readiness  of  mind,  and  now  sought  only  for  some  addi- 
tional light  in  reference  to  Christian  character  and  cus- 
toms. In  the  course  of  their  conversation,  Wakasa  said  : 
“ Sir,  I cannot  tell  you  my  feelings  when  for  the  first 
time  I read  the  account  of  the  character  and  w'ork  of 
Jesus  Christ.  I had  never  seen,  or  heard,  or  imagined 
such  a person.  I was  filled  with  admiration,  over- 
whelmed with  emotion,  and  taken  captive  by  the  record 
of  His  nature  and  life.’’  He  showed  great  familiarity  with 


i6 


APPENDIX. 


the  Bible,  made  several  pertinent  quotations,  and  was 
prepared  to  believe  all  that  Jesus  said  and  to  do  whatever 
he  required. 

After  a long  conversation  on  the  power  and  love  of 
Christ,  Dr.  Verbeck  was  taken  quite  by  surprise  by  the 
request  from  Wakasa  that  he  and  his  brother  should  be 
baptized.  It  was  well  known  that  such  an  act  would  be 
attended  with  great  peril,  as  the  law  of  the  land  strictly 
prohibited  the  Christian  religion.  Molino  also  wished 
for  baptism.  Dr.  Verbeck  warned  them  not  to  entertain 
any  superstitious  notions  in  regard  to  the  efficacy  and 
importance  of  baptism,  and  told  them  of  the  sacred  obli- 
gations of  those  who  received  it.  After  explaining  the 
form,  they  were  asked  to  decide,  as  in  the  presence  of 
God.  Without  hesitation  the  request  was  repeated,  with 
the  simple  provision  that  it  should  not  be  made  public, 
as  it  would  not  only  endanger  their  own  lives,  but  their 
families’  also.  Further  examination  showed  that  their 
experience  had  been  thorough.  They  felt  their  sins  to  be 
great  and  realized  the  need  of  a Saviour.  Recognizing 
the  insufficiency  of  all  other  systems,  they  joyfully  re- 
ceived Christ  as  their  hope  for  time  and  for  eternity. 

The  following  Sabbath  evening  was  appointed  for  the 
cermony,  and  at  the  appointed  hour  the  three  men  ap- 
peared. Their  retainers  had  been  dismissed  with  orders 
to  return  in  an  hour.  The  shutters  were  closed,  and  after 
some  words  of  exhortation  they  were  baptized  and  par- 
took of  the  sacrament.  “ Now,”  said  Wakasa,  “ I have 
that  which  I have  long  been  heartily  wishing  for.”  He 
then  told  the  story  of  the  book  found  twelve  years  before 
in  the  harbor  of  Nagasaki,  and  all  that  it  had  led  to_ 
Wakasa  returned  home  (like  the  eunuch  who  had  met 
Philip)  rejoicing  in  the  love  of  God  and  presence  of  the 
Holy  Spirit.  Dr.  Verbeck  removed  to  Tokyo,  and  the 
account  sent  to  America  was  carefully  preserved  and  for 
a long  time  was  known  to  but  few. 


